One of the most thought-provoking ideas that I have come across lately, is the concept that you need to be the author of your own life. I think that this is something that I have thought about in different ways for a long time, but never so clearly. Be the author of your life. Narrate how you want your life to go. What a simple, but powerful thought.
This came to me while I was running on Coronado a few weeks ago, enjoying the audio book, “Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living” by Shauna Niequist. As I listened, Shauna talked about how when she was younger, she found herself feeling jealous of other people’s success, or travels, or accomplishments, or of what they did, or what they had, or where they went, or even of other people seeming happier than she was.
But eventually it hit her. Always being upset or jealous about what other people had was interfering with her own happiness and success. She needed to be the author of her life. If she wanted to travel more, she needed to do it. If she wanted to be happier, she needed to choose it. If she wanted to look or feel differently, well, those were all her choices.
It seems like far too often in life we give away our power – whether through jealously, through lust, or just generally feeling like we’re not getting what we deserve in life. We give it away while we are watching someone else’s life look more glamorous or more put together. But the idea that we are writing our own story, and that we are in control of our lives is a very liberating and empowering thought.
Although I have always been a dreamer, hearing this idea in such clear terms has encouraged me to dream even more, to fear even less, and to believe without restraint that anything is possible. We all have the opportunity to write our lives just as our wildest dreams can imagine them, and there is truly no better thought to start the week with.
“. . .sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
– Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”
Great Post. I try to be thankful for something every day. There is always something to be happy about and thankful for in everyone’s day. Life is never perfect. The skater who won gold in this past Olympic Games fell 3 times in the world competition last night. Every time after the fall she got up again and continued. Her great upset did not show until she got off the ice. I am sure she will learn much about herself, and about not always being perfect in the next months. A golfer at the Masters this weekend dislocated his ankle while walking down a hill. He pushed it back in place and continued his play. To be free in life requires you always get up and continue and to be thankful for all that did go right each day. I am sure the skater and golfer were thankful they both could continue without serious injuries. Both at a difficult time did not give away their power. Their life may be the life so many would look at as wonderful, but each are very much in control. This is part of reason they got to a high level. I am sure they had people along the way say to them, “you can make it.” As well as people saying the opposite. But each owned and wrote their own story they wanted for themselves. They learned how important it is to be fearless, take on challenges and not worry what others say when your day was not perfect and things did not go as you expected.
CLOVER
Thanks for sharing Clover, I’m glad that you enjoyed this post!
Thanks for sharing this inspiring thought, it’s definitely something I need to take to heart.
It’s definitely a great thing to learn to be the author of your own life. . .enjoy Janice!